The flip chip allows riders to quickly adjust the geometry of their Maestro-equipped mountain bike to better suit how and where they ride. It lets riders change the headtube/seattube angles and bottom bracket height via eccentric (offset, two-position) hardware located on the upper rocker arm.
How does it work?
This hardware gives the rider two positions to choose from: high and low.
- High Position. When the flip chip is in the high position, the headtube and seattube angles become 0.7 degrees steeper and the bottom bracket height is 10mm higher.
- Low Position. When the flip chip is in the low position, the headtube and seattube angles shift to become 0.7 degrees slacker, and the bottom bracket height is 10mm lower.
HOW DOES IT CHANGE MY RIDE EXPERIENCE?
High Position:
From a riding perspective, a steeper headtube angle makes the bike handle quicker and a steeper seattube angle places the rider in more aggressive climbing position. Also, a higher bottom bracket improves pedal clearance, allowing riders to pedal through rocky and rooty terrain with fewer pedal strikes. The high position is the recommended setting for slower, tighter, more technical terrain.
Low Position:
Having a slacker headtube angle gives the bike more stability at speed and increased confidence on steeper terrain by placing the front wheel a bit farther out in front of the rider. Additionally, a lower bottom bracket height lowers the center of gravity of the bike and rider, making it even more stable at high speeds. The low position is ideal for faster, more open terrain.